Today Steve Jobs issued a statement to apple fan boys, most still upset that they don’t get to see him this week, dispelling rumors that his chronic weight loss over the last year, and recent decision to ditch MacWorld, are signs that he will be leaving Apple, and possibly the planet.

Job’s statement was followed by an official release by Apple’s Board of Directors stating emphatically that if Steve ever decides to move on from being the CEO of Apple, we will know it.

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Last January, Bill Gates made his final CES keynote speech, and in September we were told that his replacement would be the man who had taken his position at Microsoft: Steve Ballmer. Ballmer, like Gates, will be assisted by Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, during the 2009 International CES preshow keynote this Wednesday.

The festivities start at 6:30 PM PST in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. If you can't make it but still want to see the keynote as it happens, here are the links for streaming: 100k, 300k, and 750k.

TechCrunch is reporting that Ballmer will be discussing the following Microsoft announcements:

Windows 7 public beta: Vista's successor will easily be one of the biggest topics of the show

I'm sure there will be more to it than that, as watching Ballmer speak is usually quite entertaining. CES 2009 will be taking place from Thursday to Sunday and you can bet that we'll be covering it thoroughly.